Sabah State Route SA3

Sabah Route SA3
Jalan Tenom–Sipitang
Route information
Length71 km (44 mi)
Major junctions
East endTenom
Major intersections FT 500 Federal Route 500
FT 22 (Interior North-South Highway) / FT 500 / FT 501
SA33 Jalan Kemabong-Tenom
FT 1 Federal Route 1
West endSipitang
Location
CountryMalaysia
Primary
destinations
Tenom, Sipitang, Beaufort, Lawas
Highway system

State Route SA3 was a 71 kilometres (44 mi) state route located in Sabah that connects the Tenom area to the Sipitang area. It serves as the main highway to connect most villages in the Interior Division of Sabah to Sipitang, as well as Sarawak. It also serves as the continuation link of the Federal Route 500. The highway that runs between Tenom and Sipitang, known as the Tenom-Sipitang Highway, traverses the Crocker Range within the Mount Lumaku forest reserve.

Road Section

The highway runs from Tenom to Paal was a 17.1 kilometres (10.6 mi) road, passing all estates road nearby plantation. The highway ends at a roundabout where it meets the Paal-Kuala Tomani Highway. Then a 53.8 kilometres (33.4 mi) road which runs from east to west, traverses the Crocker Range, within the Mount Lumaku forest reserve, as well as two district, Tenom and Sipitang District. It features steep gradient, ranging from 10% to 15%, with some section range only 12% to 14%. Some segment in the Sipitang District also featuring only rolling gradient, as well as a gravel, and a pothole, then ends at the Mengalong roundabout.[1][2]

Road origins

The State Route SA3 was once a longer state route in Sabah, now known as the Federal Route 500 which runs from Kota Kinabalu to Tenom. Only the section between Paal and Tenom retains the state highway code.

The Tenom-Sipitang Highway was once a logging highway intersect with the original Route SA3 before some road in the same state route was renumbered where the Kota Kinabalu to Tenom section is recommissioned as federal highway. After the renumbering of the route, the Tenom-Sipitang Highway was commissioned as part of Sabah State Route SA3, following the complete of the highway in 2007.[3]

Junction lists

The entire route is located in Interior Division, Sabah.

Legend:

DistrictLocationkmmiNameDestinationsNotes
TenomTenomTenom
Tenom town centre
FT 500 Federal Route 500 – Melalap, Keningau, Tambunan, Kota Kinabalu, Interior North-South HighwayRoundabout
Sungai Padas bridge
TenomJalan Tenom Ponontomon – Sapong, Paal, KemabongRoundabout
Sapong
Kg. Paal
PaalSA33 Jalan Tenom Kemabong – Kemabong, Kuala Tomani, Sipitang, Sindumin, LawasT-junction
-- m above sea level
Tenom bound, Engage lower gear
Mount Lumaku Forest Reserve
-- m above sea level
SipitangSindumin-- m above sea level
Sipitang bound, Engage lower gear
Kg. Solob
Short Tunnel I/S
Kg. Muaya
Long Pasia I/SLong PasiaJunction
MelamamJunction
Kg. Lubang Buaya
Mengalong FT 1 Federal Route 1 – Kota Kinabalu, Beaufort, Sipitang, Sindumin, LawasT-junction
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

Notes

  • The state route was not to be confused with the original State Route SA3, from Federal Route 500.

References

  1. ^ "Membina Ruang Pejalan Kaki". Public Works Department Sabah (in Malay). April 14, 2026.
  2. ^ "Finish it fast: Sipitang MP on Pan Borneo". Daily Express. Malaysia. March 17, 2026.
  3. ^ "Sipitang Logging Havoc". Daily Express. Sabah. November 27, 2023.